Azerbaijan Airlines orders Airbus for 12 A320neo and A321 jets

National flag carrier, Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), has confirmed that the airline has placed an order with Airbus for 12 A320neo jets.

The contract between the two aviation companies was signed by executives on April 6, 2023, in Baku.

The order made by AZAL includes both the A320neo and A321neo airliners, which will join the existing fleet of 14 Airbus aircraft.

These include four A319ceo, six A320ceo, two A340 and, since the beginning of the year, three new generation A320neo aircraft.

AZAL confirmed the choice of engines will be made by the airline at a later stage.

“We are pleased to continue our mutually beneficial cooperation with Airbus on our fleet modernization program and intend to strengthen our bilateral partnership,” said Samir Rzayev, the first vice-president of AZAL CJSC. “The signed contract will provide our passengers with the most modern and comfortable narrow-body aircraft.”

AZAL hopes the new aircraft will help increase the airline’s efficiency and competitiveness by operating modern and cost-effective aircraft.

The airline plans to use the efficient aircraft of the A320neo family to develop its domestic and international route network.

This order is an important stage in the productive cooperation between Airbus and Azerbaijan Airlines,” said head of Airbus International Department and chief commercial officer Christian Scherer.

On March 29, 2023, Hong Kong-based low-cost carrier HK Express announced the arrival of its first Airbus A321neo aircraft.

It marks the delivery of the first of 16 A321neo aircraft for HK Express, a member of the Cathay Pacific Group. Delivery of the remaining aircraft will be rolled out over the next two years.

The A320neo family is the most popular aircraft type in the world, with more than 8,700 orders from 135 customers.